Published 4:20 am, Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Houston police are investigating a fatal traffic accident in the 5600 block of the Southwest Freeway that closed southbound lanes for hours.

The accident occurred about 3 p.m. on Monday, March 31.

The male victim, 61, was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity is pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

According to HPD, the victim was driving a red Jeep Cherokee erratically southbound on the Southwest Freeway. The Jeep then struck a United States Postal Service tractor trailer truck, which then caused both vehicles to slide toward an outside concrete wall.

The Cherokee was pinned between the wall and the tractor trailer truck. Both vehicles continued to slide further south until the tractor trailer went over the wall and struck a pole. Both vehicles then burst into flames.

The driver of the Cherokee died at the scene. The driver of the trailer truck was transported to Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.